MLB Prospect Watch

Prospect Action - Jackson, Belt, Drake

• Cubs OF prospect Brett Jackson doubled and scored a run in his first Triple-A game, notes Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Mariners prospect Jharmidy DeJesus recorded four hits and three RBI's on Thursday, says The Seattle Times, while LHP prospect James Paxton struck out 11 batters in his Double-A debut, reports David Heck of MiLB.com.
• Elih Villanueva got roughed up in his latest start, but fellow Marlins prospect Matt Dominguez did hit another home run, notes Tim Grubbs of NOLA.com.
• Brandon Belt is getting his swing back in Triple-A, turning in a perfect night at the plate on Thursday and making his case for a return to San Francisco, reports David Heck of MiLB.com.
• Oliver Drake tossed a complete game in his return to Double-A, and the Orioles prospect fanned ten batters in the process, reports Danny Wild of MiLB.com.

 

Prospect Action - Royals, Belt, Chisenhall, Harvey

• Thursday night played out the way that many expected this season would for the Royals top farm team, as Mike Moustakas homered twice, Eric Hosmer had four hits, and Danny Duffy threw six scoreless innings, reports John Parker of MiLB.com.
• Brandon Belt is back to his old hot-hitting ways in Triple-A, as he homered and doubled on Thursday, says Parker.  Belt is, however, seeing time in left field rather than at first base, possibly preparing him for his return to the Giants later this season.
• Indians 3B prospect Lonnie Chisenhall hit a two-run homer off of Braves prospect Mike Minor, notes Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Cardinals pitching prospect Jordan Swagerty threw six scoreless innings en route to a victory, says Andrew Pentis of MiLB.com.
• In other prospect action:
  • Diamondbacks OF prospect Collin Cowgill blasted two home runs.
  • A number of Red Sox prospects left the yard for Portland on Thrusday, as Ryan Lavarnway and Tim Federowicz both hit one and Will Middlebrooks hit two.
  • Mets pitching prospect Matt Harvey had the first rough start of his career, giving up 6 runs (4 earned) and failing to get out of the 5th inning.

 

Prospect Action in the Majors

As the first week of major league action winds down, we're starting to see many of the prospects who made big league rosters take their turns on the field.

• Michael Pineda made his first major league start on Tuesday, and the Mariners were pleased with the results, says Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times.  Pineda was one of a number of surprise prospects to stay in the majors after the spring, notes Keith Law of ESPN.com, who questioned the M's decision to keep the young right-hander.
• The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have elevated hard-throwing rookie Jordan Walden into the closer's role at the back of the bullpen after incumbent Fernando Rodney's early season struggles, reports Kevin Baxter of The Los Angeles Times, who also notes the successful relationship rookie catcher Hank Conger has molded with team ace Jared Weaver.  Conger caught Weaver in two late-season starts in 2010 and Weaver praised the prospect's work behind the plate.  Conger made his first start on Tuesday, receiving another Weaver gem, and perhaps adding to the confidence manager Mike Scioscia has in him behind the plate.
• Brandon Belt has struggled at the plate to start the season, and Aubrey Huff has been an adventure in right field, where he's playing to accommodate Belt's arrival in the lineup, but despite these struggles, Giants manager Bruce Bochy says he has no intention of sitting Belt down anytime soon, says Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.
• Mike Minor will make his first start of the season for the Braves on Wednesday, taking the rotation spot of the injured Jair Jurrjens, says Doug Miller of MLB.com.  Minor will try to get the ball to Craig Kimbrel, the Braves closer who has continued his string of dominance from last season, notes Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
• Jeremy Hellickson will make his 2011 debut for the Rays, getting the start opposite Dan Haren against the Angels on Wednesday, says Spencer Fordin of MLB.com.
• The Washington Nationals plan to move rookie second baseman Danny Espinosa up to the leadoff spot in their batting order, reports Bill Ladson of MLB.com.

 

Belt Makes Giants

Despite internal options, the Giants have elected to keep top prospect Brandon Belt in the majors to begin the 2011 season, reports John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.  Belt will be in the starting lineup on Opening Day, batting 7th and playing first base.

The Giants had said all spring that they would only keep Belt if they had a place for him in their starting lineup.  Belt out-performed Travis Ishikawa, who the team was forced to place on waivers to make room for Belt on the 40-man roster, and with an injury to Cody Ross opening a spot in the starting outfield, the move of Aubrey Huff to right field opened up a spot for Belt at first base.

 

Prospect Potent Potables - Royals, Belt, Dykstra, Tulsa

• Now that the dust has settled, it appears the Royals will support All-Star closer Joakim Soria with four rookie relievers, notes Michael Engel of KingsofKauffman.com.  Tim Collins, Jeremy Jeffress, Nathan Adcock and Aaron Crow will all begin the year in relief, with Crow being the only one of the quartet that may develop into a starter down the road.
• The Giants still have yet to make a decision regarding top prospect Brandon Belt, but are leaning toward making him their starting first baseman, says John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.
• In a swap of disappointing former prospects, the Padres have sent former first round pick Allan Dykstra to the Mets for former first round pick Eddie Kunz, reports Don Norcross of the San Diego Union-Tribune.  Dykstra, a first baseman, has not performed up to his billing and has fallen on the depth chart behind Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Blanks, while Kunz, a reliever, has not progressed into the late-inning pitcher the Mets had hoped and has yet to stay in the major leagues.
• The Rockies will have a prospect-laden team taking the field in Tulsa this year, says Jack Etkin of Inside the Rockies.  The season-opening roster will include Christian Friedrich, Casey Weathers, Wilin Rosario, Hector Gomez, and Tim Wheeler.
• Matt Harvey is ready to start the season, and the Mets prospect is throwing as hard as ever, says David Lennon of Newsday.com.
• The Diamondbacks plan to move Bobby Borchering along slowly, says Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, and also plan to give him some time at first base this season.
• Dayan Viciedo is progressing as planned in his recovery from a broken thumb suffered when he was hit by a spring training pitch, reports Scott Merkin of MLB.com.  The White Sox will keep Viciedo in extended spring training for a few extra days at the start of the season.